Telescopic umbrella

ABSTRACT

An umbrella having a folding dome rib structure. The inner part of each dome rib adjacent the crown is in two sections hinged to fold out as the umbrella is collapsed to mushroom the umbrella cover. One section is forked so it can lie adjacent the other section when the umbrella is folded.

Umted States Patent 1191 1 1 3,841,343

Seitel Oct. 15, 1974 TELESCOPIC UMBRELLA 2,258,196 /1941 Siers 135/26 5 6 1 1 Inventor: Heinz sew, solingen, Germany 512331215 31333 $2521? 13326 11 [73] Assignee: Telesco nrnphey Limited, Montreal, 3,785,388 l/l974 Schafer l/20 R Quebec, Canada 22 d: L 19, 97 Primary Examiner.l. Karl Bell I I 8 0c 3 Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Alan Swabey; Robert E. [2| Appl. No.: 408,190 Mitchell 30 1 Foreign Application Prlonty Data ABSTRACT Oct. 2l, 1972 Germany 2251773 An umbrella having a folding dome rib structure. The [52] US. Cl. 135/25 R, 135/20 R inner part of each dome rib adjacent the crown is in [51] Int. Cl Ab 19/00 two sections hinged to fold out as the umbrella is col- [58] Fleld of Search /20-26 lapsed to mushroom the umbrella cover. One section is forked so it can lie adjacent the other section when [56] References Cited the umbrella is folded.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,188 8/1939 Bernhard 135/26 5 Clams 4 Drawmg figures PATENT 0x11151914 sum 1 m 3 FIG. I

PATENTED OCT 1 51974 sum mi TELESCOPIC UMBRELLA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an umbrella, and more particularly to an umbrella of the type which can be collapsed to fonn a relatively small package when not in use.

2. Description of the Prior Art One type of known umbrella has a parallelogram frame structure. This umbrella is easy to open and close since the dome ribs of the umbrella are not telescoped, but are instead folded, and controlled as to angularity by the parallelogram structure. The umbrella, however, has a disadvantage in that the cover material near the crown is usually folded between the frame structure rather than being billowed out in mushroom fashion as with a conventional telescoping umbrella. As a result of this, when the cover is wet, it does not have an opportunity to dry properly, and the moisture can adversely affect the joints of the frame structure.

In conventional umbrellas, having telescoping dome ribs, the cover material is usually attached centrally of the crown of the umbrella and at the tops of the dome ribs. The cover is also usually attached at intermediate points to sliding geats on the dome ribs. When the umbrella is being folded, and the dome ribs are being telescoped, that portion of the cover between the geats and crown becomes bunched and must be manually reformed and neatly folded before insertion into a sheath.

Also, the folds of the cover between the geats and crown are often pinched by the geats against the crown when the umbrella is fully collapsed. This can give rise to accidental tearing of the cover.

To avoid or minimize the above problems, it is known to provide structure integral with the umbrella frame structure which more effectively controls the cover structure when collapsing the umbrella. Such structure is shown in our copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 349,006, filed Apr. 9, 1973.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved cover control structure for umbrellas. The structure in the present invention provides for more uniform handling of the cover when mushrooming it during folding. In addition, the structure permits the umbrella to be collapsed into a smaller package than before.

The invention is particularly directed toward an umbrella having a frame, a stick, a crown at one end of the stick and at least one runner slidable on the stick. The frame includes dome ribs, and frame stretcher members connect the ribs to the runner. A cover is attached to the crown and the ribs. The umbrella has spreader means foldable outwardly when the umbrella is being collapsed to spread and shape the cover into a mushroom shape. The spreader means comprises a first set of members hingedly connected to the crown and a second set of members hingedly connected to the ribs. Each member of one of the first or second set of members is also hingedly connected to two members of the other of the first or second set of members.

Preferably, each member of the second set of members is forked with the base of the fork connected to a rib and each arm of the fork connected to a member of the first set of members.

The members of the second set of members preferably are slightly shorter in length than the members of the second set.

In one embodiment, the first and second sets of members are formed in one integral piece.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, it will now be described in detail having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the umbrella frame in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary schematic view of the umbrella frame in a partially closed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary schematic view of the urn brella, similar to FIG. 2, but in a further advanced closed position; and

FIG. 4 is a detail schematic view of a portion of the umbrella frame.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, the umbrella includes a stick 1 comprising two telescoping sections 2, 3 with section 2 being of circular cross-section and with section 3 being of polygonal cross-section. .Section 2 has a polygonal cross-sectioned bore at one end to receive section 3 permitting the sections to telescope. A conventional locking device 4 is provided at the end of seciton 2 having the bore to releasably hold the sections 2, 3 when fully extended. The section 2 has a crown 6 at its other end.

A main runner 24 slides on stick 1 as does an auxiliary runner 21 located between main runner 24 and crown 6. A plurality of stretcher members 25 are each hinged at one end to a flange 26 on the main runner 24.

An elongated rigid hinge bracket 14 is connected to the other end of each stretcher member at hinge point 16. A dome rib member 7b is hingedly connected from one end to each rigid hinge bracket 14 by a sleeve 34. The rib enters bracket 14 through sleeve 34 and is maintained therein by a punch mark 35. A strut 29 is hinged to a flange 28 on auxiliary runner 27 at one end, and at its other end is hinged at point 30 midway of each stretcher member 25. A link member 31 is hinged from one end to each strut 29 at hinge point 33, and at its other end is hinged at hinge point 15 to an end of rigid lelogram structure P controlling the sequence of movements of the umbrella. The shorter sides of the parallelogram are formed by a portion of strut 29 and bracket 14.

Spreader means are provided between the hinge brackets 14 and crown 6. The spreader means has a first set of members Tl, each hinged to a flange 8 on crown 6 at point 9. The spreader means also has a second set of members T2, each hinged to a bracket 14 at hinge point 17. Members Tl each have a kink l0 adjacent crown 6 and a kink 11 adjacent its other end at hinge point 12 where it is hinged to the members T2.

The members Tl can be made of wire or flat material. The members T1 are each a forked-shaped member G and have the base of the fork connected to the hinge bracket at 17, and each arm connected to a member T1 at point 12. The arms can be made of flat material.

The above structure provides that each member T1 or T2 of either set connects to two members of the other set. The hinge connections 12 are radially offset from the hinge connections 17 as shown in FIG. 1. The members thus form diamond-shaped patterns F between them, the patterns surrounding, and adjacent to, the crown 6. This region of the umbrella is instrumental in spreading and shaping of the cover 20 when the umbrella is being closed as will be described. Members T1 and T2 together comprise rib sections 7a, which sections, together with members 7b, constitute dome ribs Provided between the main and auxiliary runners 24, 27 is a friction sleeve 36 which is fairly difficult to slide on section 2.

To close the umbrella, runner 24 is first pulled down the stick 1 after releasing catch 37. This moves the support system S for the dome ribs 7, which system includes the stretcher members 25 and struts 29, inwardly toward the stick. However, runner 27 is initially prevented from moving by sleeve 36. Thus, movement of the support system S toward the stick quickens. Simultaneously, members T1 of the spreader means move outwardly slightly to keep the cover away from the support system. As stretcher members 25 and struts 29 become aligned, the auxiliary runner 27 moves down and the members T1, T2 assume a slight bowed position, because of kink 10, to keep the material away from the frame.

To completely collapse the umbrella, runner 24 can now be moved up towards the crown. This moves the collapsed support system S and cover 20 up as well,

cover 20 being attached to the crown 6, brackets 14,

and the ends of rib members 7b. This upward movement in turn causes the members T1, T2 to fold outwardly about hinge points 12 as shown in FIG. 3, thus mushrooming the cover 20, as shown at P1. Further upward movement of runner 24 pushes hinge points 17 up, past hinge points 12 and with members T2 being shorter than T1, both members T1 and T2 fold down along the stick 1. Each member Tl ends up between the adjacent arms of adjacent members T2 and the adjacent arms of adjacent members T2 end up between stretcher members 25. In addition, the brackets 14 end up between members T1. Kink 10 permits the members T1 to bridge the brackets 14. Thus, a very compact collapsed umbrella is obtained. In addition, the collapsed umbrella is easily inserted into a sheath.

The members T1, T2, forming a multi-diamond or star pattern, provide good support for the cover when the umbrella is open and when it is being opened or closed.

The umbrella is opened in reverse sequence to that described for closing it.

Preferably at least the members T2 are made of resilient material so the arms of the fork are biased away from each other as the umbrella is opened.

While the members T1, T2 have been described as separate members, they can all be molded, or otherwise formed, in one integral piece provided the sections forming the equivalent to members T1, T2 are hingedly connected together.

It is understood that other embodiments of the present invention can be devised, for instance, wherein a more conventional type of umbrella would be used and the foldable members would over-ride the dome ribs which are normally hinged to the crown.

I claim:

1. An umbrella having a frame, a stick, a crown at one end of the stick, at least one runner slidable on the stick, the frame including dome rib members, frame stretcher members. connecting the rib members to the runner, a cover attached to the crown and dome ribs, spreader means foldable outwardly when the umbrella is being collapsed to spread and shape the cover into a mushroom shape, said spreader means comprising a first set of members pivotably connected to the crown, a second set of members pivotably connected to the rib members and each member of one of the first or second set of members being pivotably connected to two members of the other of the first or second set of members.

2. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first set of members lie adjacent the second set of members when the umbrella is folded.

3. An umbrella as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the second set of members are forked with the base of the fork attached to the dome rib members, and each arm attached to a member of the first set of members.

4. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein each member of the first set is slightly longer than each member of the second set.

5. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein all the members of both first and second sets are in one integral piece. 

1. An umbrella having a frame, a stick, a crown at one end of the stick, at least one runner slidable on the stick, the frame including dome rib members, frame stretcher members connecting the rib members to the runner, a cover attached to the crown and dome ribs, spreader means foldable outwardly when the umbrella is being collapsed to spread and shape the cover into a mushroom shape, said spreader means comprising a first set of members pivotably connected to the crown, a second set of members pivotably connected to the rib members and each member of one of the first or second set of members being pivotably connected to two members of the other of the first or second set of members.
 2. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first set of members lie adjacent the second set of members when the umbrella is folded.
 3. An umbrella as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the second set of members are forked with the base of the fork attached to the dome rib members, and each arm attached to a member of the first set of members.
 4. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein each member of the first set is slightly longer than each member of the second set.
 5. An umbrella as claimed in claim 1, wherein all the members of both first and second sets are in one integral piece. 